Check-out counter systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A bagging station within a check-out counter system and for use by a cashier positioned in a cashier location within the check-out counter system. The bagging station includes a lower bag rack and an upper bag rack. The lower bag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with a first portion of merchandise and defines a first upper edge. The upper bag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with a second portion of merchandise. The upper bag rack is positioned behind the lower bag rack relative to the cashier location, and the upper bag rack defines a second upper edge. The first upper edge and the second upper edge are arranged in a terraced configuration. Check-out counter systems and methods of processing merchandise provide additional advantages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the supermarket and merchandising industries, many differentstyles of check-out counter systems are in use. With increasing laborcosts and improved data systems, the pressure for productivity at thecheck-out location of these industries has increased dramatically.Little attention, however, has been given to the cashiers, leading toincreased health complaints, worker compensation claims, and disabilitylawsuits. The major source of such claims is due to over exertionleading to strains and sprains of the lower back and upper extremities.Some of these injuries are permanently disabling.

It is only in recent years that certain of these injuries have beenidentified as work related. Biomechanical studies indicate that thelower back is vulnerable to stress damage during even moderate loadhandling, but that the symptoms may not manifest until later in theinjured worker's life. Carpal tunnel syndrome and related injuries suchas tendinitis, tenosynovitis and De Quervain's Disease are apparentlycaused by injuries that build up gradually over time before symptomsbegin to appear. Tasks which are highly repetitive in naturedramatically increase the risk of injury. Fatigue also appears to be oneof the underlying causes of many of the symptoms experienced by cashiersat check-out counter systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of embodiments of the present invention relates to a baggingstation within a check-out counter system and for use by a cashierpositioned in a cashier location within the check-out counter system.The bagging station includes a lower bag rack and an upper bag rack. Thelower bag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with afirst portion of merchandise and defines a first upper edge. The upperbag rack is configured to hold at least one bag for loading with asecond portion of merchandise. The upper bag rack is positioned behindthe lower bag rack relative to the cashier location, and the upper bagrack defines a second upper edge. The first upper edge and the secondupper edge are arranged in a terraced configuration. Other features andadvantages are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to thefigures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a rear isometric view of one embodiment of a check-out countersystem, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of the check-out counter system of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the check-out counter system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the check-out counter system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the check-out counter system of FIG.4 taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of one embodiment of a check-out countersystem, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the check-out counter system of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the check-out counter system of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a check-out counter system 10 for the supermarketand merchandising industries in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. Although the check-out system 10 of this embodimentis optimized for the supermarket and merchandising industry, it can beadapted for a variety of other retail, wholesale, and/or warehouseapplications. In one embodiment, the check-out counter system 10includes an unload area 12, a point-of-sale terminal 14, a userinterface 16, a bagging station 18.

Generally, merchandise is placed in the unload area 12 and advancedalong a generally linear merchandise processing path, which is generallyillustrated in FIG. 1 at 20. More particularly, merchandise placed inthe unload area 12 is forwarded along the processing path 20 to thepoint-of-sale terminal 14 and the user interface 16 where it isprocessed before placement into one of a plurality of bags 22 stored atthe bagging station 18. In this manner, the check-out counter system 10is arranged in an intuitive manner based upon the merchandise processingpath 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the unload area 12 is the upper surfaceof a conveyor belt 24. The conveyor belt 24 includes a terminal end 26located adjacent to the user interface 16. Merchandise placed on theunload area 12 of the conveyor belt 24 by a customer is conveyed to theterminal end 26 of the conveyor belt 24. In an alternate embodiment, theunload area 12 is a static surface along which merchandise is manuallyadvanced. In another embodiment, the unload area 12 is relatively shortsuch that a shopping cart containing merchandise can be positionedrelatively near the user interface 16.

User interface 16 is configured to scan or otherwise processes items ofmerchandise for sale. In one embodiment, the user interface 16 is anoptical or a radio frequency scanner or reader configured to readinformation from the merchandise moved into the near proximity of thescanner. For example, the scanner reads merchandise identificationinformation and/or merchandise price information from a bar code orradio frequency identification (RFID) badge secured to the merchandise.Accordingly, a merchandise “scanner” or “reader” as used in thespecification and claims includes the ability to access information fromeither bar codes or RFID badge. In one embodiment, the user interface 16is electronically coupled with the point-of-sale terminal 14. Thepoint-of-sale terminal 14 is typically located on a stand 28, which alsopreferably includes a data input device 30, such as a keyboard and acash drawer 32. With this in mind, merchandise information can berecorded by the point-of-sale terminal 14 at least semi-automaticallyvia user interface 16 or manually via the data input device 30.

The bagging station 18 is provided where the cashier loads merchandiseinto shopping bags 22. The bagging station 18 is preferably adjacent toa downstream edge 40 of the user interface 16. In one embodiment,bagging station 18 includes one or more lower bag racks 42 and one ormore upper bag racks 44 each configured to support a plurality of bags22 for subsequent loading with merchandise. Although the check-outcounter system 10 is described herein as including two lower bag racks42 and two upper bag racks 44, the number of bag racks and theirrelative positioning varies in different embodiments.

Each of the bags 22 on the bag racks 42 and 44 is accessible by thecashier. With this in mind, in one embodiment, the lower bag racks 42are arranged in a terraced relationship with respect to the upper bagracks 44, so that an upper edge 46 of each of the upper bag racks 44 ispositioned above an upper edge 48 of each the lower bag racks 42. Inaddition, the upper bag racks 44 are positioned behind the lower bagracks 42 relative to a cashier location 50. In one embodiment, the upperbag racks 44 are laterally positioned within reach of the customer,thereby allowing the customer to assist the cashier in loadingmerchandise into the bags 22, if the customer so desires.

In one embodiment, the upper edges 46, 48 of bag racks 42, 44 arelocated in parallel planes. In another embodiment, one or both of theupper edges 46, 48 are angled or tipped slightly toward the cashierlocation 50. Angling the upper edge 48 toward the cashier locationfacilitates cashier access to bags 22, thereby reducing muscle strain onthe cashier.

In one embodiment, each bag rack 42, 44 has a pair of spaced elongatedsupport rods 52. The support rods 52 of the lower bag racks 42 areattached to a first wall 54, while the upper bag racks 44 are attachedto a second wall 56. More specifically, the first wall 54 is laterallyspaced from the second wall 56 relative to the longitudinally extendingprocessing path 20. The first wall 54 is positioned nearer to thecashier than the second wall 56. With the above in mind, the pair ofsupport rods 52 are adapted to laterally extend from wall 54 or 56 tohold a plurality of shopping bags 22 between each pair of support rods52. More specifically, in one example each of the bags 22 is held openbetween the pair of support rods 52. In one example, the bags 22 and thebag racks 42, 44 are bags or bag racks similar to those illustrated inU.S. Pat. No. 4,398,689 (Prader); U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,388 (Provan); U.S.Pat. No. 4,529,090 (Pilon); U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,200 (Benoit, Jr. etal.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,759 (Schisler); U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,985(DeMatteis et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,158 (Boyd et al.); and RE 33,264(Baxley et al.), which are incorporated herein by reference. A varietyof other bags and bag racks can be used with the present check-outcounter system 10.

The bagging station 18 additionally includes a lower support shelf 60positioned below the lower bag racks 42 and an upper support shelf 62positioned below the upper bag racks 44. The lower and upper supportshelves 60 and 62, respectively, each include a top surface configuredto support the bags 22 when the bags 22 hung from the bag racks 42 and42 are loaded with merchandise. The support shelves 60, 62 also permitself-supporting bags, such as paper bags, to be positioned in the bagracks 42, 44 in an open configuration ready to receive merchandise.

In one embodiment, a deck area 70 is optionally located downstream ofthe bag racks 42 and 44. After the cashier finishes loading themerchandise into the bags 22, the loaded bags 22 are removed from thelower bag rack 42 and/or the upper bag rack 44 and placed on the deckarea 70. The customer and/or the cashier then picks up these loaded bags22 from the deck area 70 for transport away from the check-out countersystem 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the deck area 70 has a substantially flattop surface generally coplanar with the top surface of the upper supportshelf 62, so that the loaded bags 22 can be slid to the deck area 70from the upper support shelf 62. In another embodiment, the top surfaceof the deck area 70 is generally coplanar with the top surface of thelower support shelf 60, so that the loaded bags 22 can be directly sliddownstream to the deck area 70 from the lower support shelf 60. Slidingthe loaded bags 22 from the lower support shelf 60 or the upper supportshelf 62 to the deck area 70 reduces the need for the cashier to liftand move heavy loaded bags 22.

In yet another embodiment, the top surface of the deck area 70 iscoplanar with neither the top surface of the upper support shelf 62 norwith the top surface of the lower support shelf 60. For example, asillustrated in the rear view of FIG. 4, the upper edge 48 of the lowerbag racks 42 is generally positioned coplanar with the upper supportsurfaces of each of the conveyor belt 24 and the user interface 16, andthe upper edge 46 of each of the upper bag racks 44 is generallypositioned above the upper support surfaces of the conveyor belt 24 andthe user interface 16. In another embodiment, the upper edge 48 of thelower bag racks 42 is generally positioned below the support surfaces ofthe conveyor belt 24 and the user interface 16, while the upper edge 46of the upper bag racks 44 is generally positioned above the supportsurfaces of the conveyor belt 24 and the user interface 16.

The lower bag racks 42 collectively extend between longitudinally spacededges 72 and 74 and the upper bag racks 44 collectively extend betweenlongitudinally spaced edges 76 and 78. In one embodiment, the edges 76and 78 of the upper bag racks 44 are aligned with the edges 72 and 74 ofthe lower bag racks 42, respectively. In another embodiment, the edges76 and 78 and the edges 72 and 74 are respectively offset from eachother.

Referring to FIG. 5, a distance 80 is defined between the upper edges 46of the upper bag racks 44 and the upper edges 48 of the lower bag racks42. In one embodiment, the distance 80 is generally between about fiveinches to about twelve inches. Further, in one example, a distance 82defined between the first wall 54 and the second wall 56 is generallybetween about eight inches to about fourteen inches.

A distance 84 (see FIG. 4) is defined between the pair of elongated rods52 of each of the bag racks 42 and 44 and is uniform for each bag rack42 and 44. In one embodiment, the distance 84 is about twelve inches. Inanother embodiment, the distance 84 defined between the pair ofelongated rods 52 of each of the bag racks 42 and 44 may be differentfrom each other, so that bags 22 with different sizes can be used withthe differently sized bag racks 42 and 44.

A distance 86 is defined between the upper edges 46 of the lower bagracks 42 and the top surface of the lower support shelf 60. In oneembodiment, the distance 86 is generally equal to a distance 88, whichis defined between the upper edges 48 of the upper bag racks 44 and thetop surface of the upper support shelf 62. Therefore, in thisembodiment, the size of the bags 22 on the lower bag racks 42 and thesize of the bags on the upper bag racks 44 are generally the same. Inone example, the distances 86 and 88 are each generally about fifteeninches.

In another embodiment, the distance 86 is not equal to the distance 88,so that the size of the bags on the lower bag racks 42 and the size ofthe bags on the upper bag racks 44 are different. For example, thedistance 88 can be longer than the distance 86, so that the top surfaceof the lower support shelf 60, the top surface of the upper supportshelf 62, and the top surface of the deck area 70 (See FIGS. 1 and 2)are generally coplanar. In this embodiment, the loaded bags 22 can beslid to the deck area 70 from the lower support shelf 60 and the uppersupport shelf 62 by the cashier. Such arrangement reduces the need forthe cashier to lift heavy loaded bags 22.

In one embodiment, the check-out counter system 10 further includes anadditional large size bag rack 90 for holding large bags 92 and/or acloth hanger hook 94 for holding cloth hangers. The large size bag rack90 and the cloth hanger hook 94 are located laterally adjacent to thedeck area 70. The large bag rack 90 is similar to the bag racks 42, 44.Similarly, large bags 92 are similar to bags 22 only sized larger.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the check-out counter system 10 defines anoperating area 96 generally surrounding the cashier location 50 at whichthe cashier is positioned. The operating area 96 is a region from whicha cashier can access merchandise from the unloading area 12, interactwith the user interface 16 and the point-of-sale terminal 14, and loadmerchandise into bags 22 at the bagging station 18. In one embodiment,the cashier accesses operating area 96 without frequently andsubstantially stretching, straining, or leaning his or her body. Moreparticularly, the cashier can stand or sit in the cashier location 50and reach the entire operating area 96 without moving his or her feet orthe chair.

In one embodiment operating area 96 is generally circular with a nominaldiameter of about 68 inches. However, diameter and shape of theoperating area 96 will increase or decrease depending upon the size andgeneral mobility of the particular cashier. In the illustratedembodiment, the operating area 96 encompasses the terminal end 26 of theconveyor belt 24, the user interface 16, the point-of-sale terminal 14,and the bagging station 18.

In some embodiments where the user interface 16 is a radio frequencyscanner that detects RFIDs on the merchandise, the user interface 16 islocated outside the operating area 96, but still is operative within inthe operating area 96. In particular, the cashier can move merchandisepast a particular location in the operating area 96 that permits theuser interface 16 to identify that merchandise, even though the userinterface 16 is located outside the operating area 96. Whether aparticular user interface 16 is operative in the operating area 96depends upon the effective range of the user interface 16. As usedherein, “operative” refers the capability to identify merchandiselocated in an operating area, irrespective of where the hardwareperforming the identification function is located.

In one embodiment, the operating area 96 also encompasses a portion ofthe deck area 70, large size bag rack 90, and/or cloth hanger hook 94.The operating area 96 optionally includes any of a variety of additionalcomponents typically found in a grocery or retail store environment,such as for example a customer price display, a credit/debit cardreader, a check writing stand 98, a scale for weighing merchandise, etc.In an alternate embodiment where the point-of-sale terminal 14 is ageneral or special purpose computer, the point-of-sale terminal 14 islocated outside of the operating area 96.

During one embodiment of a check-out process, the cashier stands or sitsin the cashier location 50, while the customer places merchandise on theconveyor belt 24. The conveyor belt 24 moves the merchandise to theterminal end 26 where the cashier takes the merchandise from theconveyor belt 24. The cashier records the identity of each item of themerchandise using the user interface 16. In one embodiment, after themerchandise is successfully identified or scanned, the cashier loads themerchandise directly into one of the bags 22 stored in the baggingstation 18. In an embodiment where the user interface 16 is a radiofrequency transponder, the cashier simply moves the merchandise from theconveyor belt 24 directly into the bags 22 of bagging station 18.

The terraced bagging station 18 allows the cashier to load incompatibleitems into different bags 22 held on the lower and upper bag racks 42and 44. Since multiple bags 22 are simultaneously accessible to thecashier, the sorting process can occur immediately after each item ofmerchandise is scanned. Examples of such items are frozen foods andother food items, detergents and chemicals such as bleach or bathroomproducts that are generally separated from food or other items by acareful cashier, or breakable items such as eggs and light bulbs thatare generally separated from heavier objects to decrease inadvertentbreaking of the items.

The loaded bags 22 are removed from the bag racks 42 and 44 and placedon the deck area 70. The deck area 70 is customer accessible allowingthe customer to pick up the loaded bags 22 for transfer of the loadedbags 22 away from check-out counter system 10. In one embodiment, thecustomer also or alternatively has access to the bags 22 held by theupper bag rack 44 and, therefore, can help load merchandise into bags 22and/or directly take the loaded bags 22 from the upper bag rack 44. Inother embodiments, the merchandise is also loaded into the large bag 92and positioned for subsequent customer access.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate another embodiment of a check-out counter system at100. The check-out counter system 100 is generally similar to check-outcounter system 10 except for those differences specifically describedherein. With this in mind, the check-out counter system 100 includes theunload area 12, the user interface 16, the point-of-sale terminal 14,and a bagging station 102. Bagging station 102 includes upper bag racks44, a first lower bag rack 104, and a second lower bag rack 106. Thefirst and second lower bag racks 104 and 106 are collectively arrangedin a terraced relationship with respect to the upper bag rack 44, suchthat the upper edge 46 of each of the upper bag racks 44 is positionedabove upper edges 108 and 110 of the first and second lower bag racks104 and 106, respectively.

First lower bag rack 104 is similar to the lower bag rack 42 describedabove and includes a pair of spaced elongated support rods 120 extendingfrom the first wall 54. The plurality of bags 22 are hung between thepair of support rods 120. A first lower support shelf 122 is positionedbelow the first lower bag rack 104. The first lower support shelf 122includes a top surface to support the bag 22 hung from the first lowersupport shelf 122 when the bag 22 is loaded with merchandise. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, a distance 124 is defined between first lower bagrack 104 and first lower support shelf 122. The support shelf 122 alsopermits self-supporting bags (not illustrated), such as paper bags, tobe positioned in an open configuration ready to receive merchandise.

Second lower bag rack 106 includes a pair of spaced elongated supportrods 130 extending from the first wall 54. In one embodiment, the pairof support rods 130 are hung coplanar to the pair of support rods 120 offirst lower bag rack 102. A plurality of large bags 132, which, in oneembodiment, are similar to the large bags 92 described above, are hungbetween the pair of support rods 130. Accordingly, a second lowersupport shelf 134 is positioned below the second lower bag rack 106.

The second lower support shelf 134 includes a top surface to support thebag 132 when the bag 132 is loaded with merchandise. As illustrated inFIG. 8, a distance 136 is defined between second lower bag rack 106 andsecond lower support shelf 134. In one embodiment, in order for secondlower bag rack 106 to accommodate bags 132, which are relatively largerthan the bags 22, second lower support shelf 134 is positioned belowfirst lower support shelf 122. Otherwise stated, the distance 136 isgreater than the distance 124.

In one embodiment, the check-out counter system 100 includes a deck area140 located downstream of the bag racks 44, 104, and 106. Similar to thedeck area 70, the deck area 140 has a substantially flat top surfacegenerally coplanar with the top surface of the upper support shelf 62,thereby allowing the loaded bags 22 to be slid to the deck area 70 fromthe upper support shelf 62. In one example, the deck area 140 alsoextends laterally backwards, thereby increasing the size of the deckarea 140 as compared to deck area 70, described above. The larger deckarea 140 is able to support more of the loaded bags 22 and/or 132 priorto transport of the loaded bags 22 and/or 132 away from check-outcounter system 100 as compared to the deck area 70.

In one embodiment, check-out counter system 100 includes one or moreadditional attributes, such as a security mirror 150 and/or a sodamachine receptacle 152. In one example, the security mirror 150 issecured to an outer wall 154 of the stand 62. Similarly, soda machinereceptacle 152 is secured below unload area 12.

Additionally, storage locations 160, 162, and 164 are defined below thepoint-of-sale terminal 14, the user interface 16, and the first lowersupport shelf 122, respectively. In one embodiment, storage locations160, 162, and 164 collectively store at least one of a trash bin, tissuepaper, cleaning supplies, additional bags, hangers, etc. In particular,in one example, the storage location 160 houses a trash bin, the storagelocation 162 houses tissue paper, and the storage location 164 housescleaning supplies and additional bags. Additional storage is optionallyincluded below the deck area 70. Moreover, in one embodiment, a lockingtill drawer 170 is included below deck area 140 opposite the baggingstation 18.

The check-out counter systems in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention provides a number of important advantages. Theterraced bagging station permits the cashier to load incompatible itemsinto different bags as stated above. Multiple bags are simultaneouslyavailable to the cashier to sort the merchandise. In addition, thecheck-out process can be generally completed by a cashier within theoperating area reducing the cashier need to substantially stretch,strain, or lean his or her body. The cashier can also stand or sit in achair in the cashier location without frequently and substantiallymoving his or her feet or the chair. Even if the cashier infrequentlymoves his or her feet, the footprint of movement is relatively small.The cashier does not have to walk back and forth from a checkingposition to a bagging position.

Further, the arrangement of the bag racks in a terraced manner requiresless length of the check-out counter system than bag racks arranged in aside-by-side manner. As a result, less valuable store square footage isrequired for the check-out counter system. Simultaneously, the check-outcounter systems are shaped and sized to allow additional individuals,such as other workers or the customer, to assist the cashier in thebagging process if so desired.

All of the patents and patent applications disclosed herein are herebyincorporated by reference. Although the present invention has beendescribed with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled inthe art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detailwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Inaddition, the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of thedetails described herein as modifications and variations thereof may bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Forexample, the various components of the check-out counter system 10 canreadily be interchanged with the various components of the check-outcounter system 100. Moreover, the various bag racks 42, 44, 90, 104, and106 are also interchangeable. Thus, the scope of the present inventionshould not be limited to the structures described in this application,but only by the structures described by the language of the claims andthe equivalents of those structures.

1. A bagging station within a check-out counter system and for use by acashier positioned at a cashier location within the check-out countersystem, the bagging station comprising: a lower bag rack configured tohold at least one bag for loading with merchandise, the lower bag rackdefining a first upper edge; an upper bag rack configured to hold atleast one bag for loading with merchandise, wherein the upper bag rackis positioned behind the lower bag rack relative to the cashier locationduring use, and wherein the upper bag rack defines a second upper edge,the first upper edge and the second upper edge being arranged in aterraced configuration.
 2. The bagging station of claim 1, furthercomprising: a lower support shelf positioned below the lower bag rack,wherein the lower support shelf is configured to provide additionalsupport to the at least one bag held by the lower bag rack when the atleast one bag is loaded with merchandise.
 3. The bagging station ofclaim 2, further comprising: an upper support shelf positioned below theupper bag rack, wherein the upper support shelf is configured to provideadditional support to the at least one bag held by the upper bag rackwhen the at least one bag is loaded with merchandise.
 4. The baggingstation of claim 3, wherein a first distance is defined between thelower support shelf and the first upper edge of the lower bag rack, anda second distance is defined between the upper support shelf and thesecond upper edge of the upper bag rack, and further wherein the firstdistance is equal to the second distance.
 5. The bagging station ofclaim 3, wherein a first distance is defined between the lower supportshelf and the first upper edge of the lower bag rack, and a seconddistance is defined between the upper support shelf and the second upperedge of the upper bag rack, and further wherein the first distance isgreater than the second distance.
 6. The bagging station of claim 1,wherein the upper bag rack includes a pair of laterally extendingsupport rods, and further wherein the upper bag rack holds the at leastone bag by hanging the at least one bag between the pair of laterallyextending support rods.
 7. The bagging station of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of first bags held by the lower bag rack; aplurality of second bags held by the upper bag rack; wherein each of theplurality of second bags is generally larger than each of the pluralityof first bags.
 8. The bagging station of claim 1, wherein the firstupper edge and the second upper edge are angled toward the cashierlocation.
 9. The bagging station of claim 1, wherein the lower bag rackdefines a first edge and a second edge longitudinally spaced from thefirst edge, and the upper bag rack defines a third edge and a fourthedge longitudinally spaced from the third edge, and further wherein thefirst edge is longitudinally aligned with the third edge, and the secondedge is longitudinally aligned with the fourth edge.
 10. A check-outcounter system for processing merchandise, comprising: a scannerconfigured to collect merchandise information from the merchandise; anda bagging station positioned adjacent to the scanner, the baggingstation including: a first bag rack configured to support a plurality offirst bags for loading with a first portion of the merchandise, a firstsupport shelf positioned a first distance below the first bag rack andconfigured to support each of the plurality of first bags when each ofthe plurality of first bags is loaded with the first portion of themerchandise, a second bag rack adjacent the first bag rack andconfigured to support a plurality of second bags for loading with asecond portion of the merchandise, and a second support shelf positioneda second distance below the second bag rack and configured to supporteach of the plurality of second bags when each of the plurality ofsecond bags is loaded with a second portion of the merchandise, whereinthe second distance is greater than the first distance.
 11. Thecheck-out counter system of claim 10, wherein the bagging stationadditionally includes: a third bag rack configured to support aplurality of third bags, and a third support shelf positioned a thirddistance below the third bag rack and configured to support each of theplurality of third bags when each of the plurality of third bags isloaded with a third portion of the merchandise.
 12. The check-outcounter system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of third bags aresized similarly to the plurality of first bags.
 13. The check-outcounter system of claim 12, wherein the third distance is equal to thefirst distance.
 14. The check-out counter system of claim 11, whereinthe third bag rack is positioned behind the first bag rack relative to acashier working at the check-out counter system.
 15. The check-outcounter system of claim 10, wherein the scanner defines a top surface,and the first bag rack defines an upper edge, and further wherein thetop surface of the scanner and the upper edge of the first bag rack aregenerally coplanar.
 16. The check-out counter system of claim 10,further comprising: a deck area for supporting at least one of theplurality of first bags and the plurality of second bags after the atleast one of the plurality of first bags and the plurality of secondbags has been loaded with a respective portion of the merchandise, thedeck area being adjacent the bagging station opposite the scanner. 17.The check-out counter system of claim 16, wherein the deck area definesa top surface, and the second support shelf defines a top surface, andfurther wherein the top surface of the deck area and the top surface ofthe second support shelf are generally coplanar.
 18. The check-outcounter system of claim 10, further comprising: a cashier location atwhich a cashier is stationed while utilizing the check-out countersystem, wherein a operating area is defined as an area accessible by thecashier when the cashier is positioned at the cashier location, andfurther wherein at least a portion of the scanner and a portion of thebagging station are each positioned within the operating area.
 19. Thecheck-out counter system of claim 10, further comprising: a hanger hookspaced from the first bag rack and the second bag rack.
 20. A check-outcounter comprising: means for hanging and supporting a plurality of bagswhile one of the plurality of bags is loaded with merchandise; means forholding the one of the plurality of bags after the one of the pluralityof bags is loaded with merchandise, wherein the means for hanging andsupporting is separated from the means for holding; and means fortransferring the one of the plurality of bags loaded with merchandisefrom the means for hanging and supporting to the means for holding,wherein the means for transferring is characterized by an absence oflifting the one of the plurality of bags from the means for hanging andsupporting.
 21. The check-out counter of claim 20, wherein the pluralityof bags is a first plurality of bags, the check-out counter furthercomprising: means for hanging and supporting a second plurality of bagspositioned in a terraced arrangement with the first plurality of bags;wherein the first and second plurality of bags are accessible from acashier location adjacent the check-out counter.
 22. The check-outcounter of claim 21, further including: means for reading informationabout the merchandise; means for sliding the merchandise between themeans for reading and the means for hanging and supporting the secondplurality of bags.
 23. The check-out counter of claim 20, wherein themeans for transferring includes means for sliding the one of theplurality of bags loaded with merchandise between the means for hangingand supporting to the means for holding.
 24. A method of processingmerchandise in a check-out counter system, the method comprising:providing first bag holder adjacent a merchandise reader; readinginformation from merchandise with the merchandise reader; placing afirst portion of the merchandise in a first bag held open by the firstbag holder; and placing a second portion of the merchandise in a secondbag held open by a second bag holder positioned in front of and belowthe first bag holder relative to a cashier location within the check-outcounter system.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein placing a firstportion of the merchandise in a first bag includes sliding the firstportion of the merchandise over the merchandise reader and into thefirst bag.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein placing the first portionand placing the second portion includes sorting the merchandise into afirst portion and a second portion based upon at least one of fragility,toxicity, size, and probable use of the merchandise.
 27. The method ofclaim 24, further comprising: transferring a first bag containing thefirst portion of the merchandise from the first bag holder to a deckarea for short term storage prior to transporting the first bag awayfrom the check-out counter system.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein afirst support shelf is positioned below the first bag holder, the methodfurther comprising: supporting the first bag with the first supportshelf when the first portion of merchandise is placed within the firstbag.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein transferring a first bag fromthe first bag holder includes sliding the first bag from the firstsupport shelf to the deck area.